Safety switch



Sept. 26, 1933. H, J. HAMMERLY SAFETY SWITCH Filed Oct. 10, 1931 INVENTOR Herm am Patented Sept. 26, 1933 e, ,incensi f SAFETY SWITCH vHerman .L1 Hammerly, New Britain, Conn., as-` e signorfvto 'ilieTrumbull rllileetaic Manufacturf Y ,ing Company, Plainville, Conn., a corporation f,.Connecticut Appunti@ october io, 1931. serial No. 568,025

" 15 c1aimS.f. o1.2oo-1v2 lVIy invention yrelates to `or'ierati'nfg means for electric switches andthe 'principal ,f object isjto provide anoperating ,handle sojarranged`V that it may be `operated inthe same 'manner I as" a rigid,

one-piece handle infthrowing the switch to eitherthe on or offposition'andthen, by a simple additional manual operation, vthe projecting end of the handle may be, disjointed in' vsuch amanner that it may continueits vrotary movement .M until it rests rcomparatively g close to'tlie lsurface of the box cover or frameupon whichitis mounted, or maybe movedat right angles to the surfacerk ofthe box." Y

f In the next operating movement 'oi the switch e no special manual operation is necessary to restore the handle to itsljointed position-for lthe reason," that vthe ynormal oni or,ofi movement of thev projecting` end'of the handle automatically moves the jointing means into normally engaged position. r

This construction permits each switch to be packed in a much shallower carton and thus it saves considerably in shipping space.

This construction is very useful in installations 4Where the space in front of the switch is limited and in which the' projecting handles of the present forms of switches would be objectionable. Another object is to provide a switch construction in which the handle can be moved to give Asof greater clearance for opening the fuse door.

Another object is to provide a switch operating member which can be set in a number of different positions.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of construction embodying my invention. f

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional viewr showing the switch handle in the off position in full lines and in dotted lines showing the outer end of the handle moved to a position at approximately right 310.1 angles to the surface yof the cover of the switch so as to permit the wide opening of the door;

Fig. 3 is anv enlarged sectional view showing a fragment of the cover and the handle in the on position and showing in dotted lines the handle extension parallel to the cover of the box.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the handle in the oir position but with its extension parallel to the iront of the box.

Fig. 5is a detail sectional view showing a frag- `5.50; ment of the handle.

The box 6 will be usually formed of sheet steel and provided with a cover formed of two parts, the upper part "I and the lower part 8, which are l e connected by hinges 9. kTheupper part of the @il cover is the normally closed portion which may switch is on or oil as the case may be.

be secured to the body ofthe box, forinstance, by screws 10. The lower part constitutes the' door forthe fuse compartment of 'the switch and may` be 'conveniently held closed by a manually releasable latch 11 which is claimedin my Patent 69 1,885,713, dated November 1st, 1932.

The switch proper may be of any suitable construction having an interior operating member 12 andan exteriorhandle member 13 .whichin this case is hinged on the crankshaft 14 which is sup- 65 ported in the socket member 15. Such a construction is claimed in my Patent 1,854,404, dated April 19,1932.

The handle extensionl is hinged at 17to a bearing member 18 at the outer end of the mainf 70 portion of thehandle' 1,3. This bearing member is providedwwitha notch 19 to receive a latch pin 20 which is held'yieldingly in position by a spring 21 so that normally the handle 13 and its extensions 16 are, so to speak, locked together and move k75 as one piece.

The ends of the locking pin 20 are exposed at the sides of the handle extension and serve as iinger pieces to permit retraction of the locking member. When the locking member is retracted so` it will be obvious that the handle extension 16 may be swung on the pivot pin 1'7 from the position shown dottedin Fig. 3 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, the shoulders 22 and 23 serving as stops to limit this unlocked movement of S5 the handle extension.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide additional recesses 24 in the bearing member 18 so as to permit the handle extension to be locked in the tilted positions as well as in the central locked position above described.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the switch may be operated by the handle in the usual manner and that by providing the hingedA extension with the interlocking device I have 955,y provided means which permits the handle extension to take up various other positions while the Such f an arrangement not only provides for greater compactness in packing and shipping but also 1Q() permits the handle to be moved upward out of the way, as shown dotted in Fig. 2 to permit the door to be fully raised when the switch is oif It also kmakes it possible to move the handle extension to a position shown in Fig. 4 when the switch 195 is on Such extra or supplementary positions also make it possible to use the handle extension as an indicator, for instance, for one or more switches in a group or panel arrangement,

The modification shown in Fig. 5 also makes it 1119 The construction as shown is also preferably l provided with a perforated flange 25 by meansA of which the handle may be sealed or lockedin position. It will be obvious that the handle extension may be moved whenthemainhandle is locked and in this way serve asanindicator which can be seen from some distance.

There are various other possibilities of such a construction and arrangement made. possible by;

this invention.

I claim:

1. In anelectric switch, .aboxhaving a cover, a, handle hinged to vthecover and an extension hingedto the handle, said handle beingiadapted to normally stop in its on and oi movements at anangle of approximately 45 withrespect to the general plane of 'the Vcover'and lone of said handle parts being provided with an interlocking member permitting thefextension to be 'swung substantially parallel `to. theouter` surface of.

2. In an electric switch, a box having a cover, a handle hinged to the cover and an extension hinged to the handle, said handle being adapted to normally stopin its on and 01T movements at an angle of approximately 4 5" with respect to the general plane ofthe coverandsaid extension being provided with an interlocking member permitting the extension. to he,swung!substantially` l parallel to the outer surface of the box in at least one of its positions of rest.

3. An electric switch box having a cover formed in two parts, the upper part being secured to the upper part of the box and the lower part constitutingiaa door` hinged to -thegupper--part, armain switchfactuating'handle hinged to the upper part otA the cover and movable toward the door to open the circuit and having an extension hinged 'tofthe main handle and adapted to be swung up- 85 4f Anelectric switchbox having a cover formed iritwoparts, theupper part being secured to the upper'partof;theboxfand the lower part constituting a door hinged "to the upper part, a main switchiactuatingmandlehinged to the upper part of the coverand movable toward the door to open the' circuit and having an extension hinged to the..mainhandle. and adaptedto be. swung toa number ofpositionsincludinga position parallel to the,general planev ofrthefront of the box.;

5.. An electricA switch box havingV a.cover formed* in two parts, the uppenpart beingsecured to the upper part of the box andthe lower'partgconsti 100 tuting adoor Ihinged to 'theupperjparm a main switch' actuating handle hingedjtothe upper partw of thecover and movable toward the jdoorto 'open`A the Vcircuit andfhaving van `extension hinged. .to

the main .handle and adapted to;be freedfrom'105 operative connection with' said main switch actuating handle and Yto'be swung into'a number ofI different positions including, a position' substan: tially parallel to 'the general plane of one part of the coverwithout 'affecting--thefswitch' circuit; 110

"J, HANIMERLY: 

